A big rig truck burns on the 10 Freeway near Towne Avenue in Pomona on Monday night after the truck and at least four autos collided.
Liset marquez - Staff

POMONA -- A fiery fatal crash involving eight cars and a tractor trailer prompted a 10-hour closure of the 10 Freeway in Pomona that ended early Tuesday.

A man in a 1987 BMW 325i died at the scene on the eastbound 10 at Towne Avenue. He was burned beyond recognition and had not been identified Tuesday.

“We’re not certain if the party was deceased because of the crash or because of the fire,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Rodrigo Jimenez.

The incident began at 8:07 p.m. Monday with a three-car crash that resulted in minor injuries and backed-up traffic.

A minute later, six vehicles and a semi truck piled up behind the first crash. Officers are investigating the cause of that collision.

“The best way I can describe it is it was a big mess,” Jimenez said.

The impact ruptured the semi truck’s full fuel tank, causing an estimated 100 gallons of fuel to spill out onto the roadway. The semi burst into flames, causing the BMW to also catch fire.

Gerardo Yanez, 21, who was driving the BMW, and Cesar Navarro, 47, both of North Hollywood escaped the burning vehicle, but they suffered critical injuries. They were flown to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for treatment.

Hector Avina, 41, of Los Angeles, who was in the semi truck, was not injured.

Edgar Henriquez, 47, of Van Nuys, the driver of a 1990 BMW 325i, was flown to County USC, along with one of his passengers, Patricia Henriquez, 46. Both suffered major injuries, officers said. A teen boy and girl in the car received minor injuries and were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Ismael Escarcega, 30, of Baldwin Park, who was driving a 2013 Honda Accord, was taken to Pomona Valley for treatment of minor injuries.

Three Claremont residents in a 2006 Toyota Sienna were not injured.

There was one minor injury in the initial crash.

The spilled fuel leaked into a flood control channel, prompting a hazardous materials clean-up at the location. Due to the spill and the crash investigation, all lanes remained closed through the night.

“Approximately 2:30 a.m., we opened up the center median to get traffic to flow through,” Jimenez said.

The carpool lane was opened at 5:43 a.m. Tuesday and the rest of the freeway was reopened at 6:36 a.m.